UNIVERSITY OF STUTTGART

Their core work

The University of Stuttgart is a leading German technical university with deep strengths in high-performance computing, simulation science, energy systems, and advanced materials. Their research groups develop computational tools for exascale systems, model complex physical processes like combustion and fluid dynamics, and engineer energy technologies from wind power to CO2 capture. They serve as a major training hub through Marie Skłodowska-Curie networks and contribute simulation and modelling expertise to large European research consortia across energy, transport, and environmental challenges.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014–2017), Stuttgart focused on foundational HPC and cloud computing (MIKELANGELO, EuroLab-4-HPC), smart city demonstrators (Triangulum), and complex systems modelling (CIMPLEX). By the later period (2018–2021), their computational work scaled up to EuroHPC and exascale initiatives, while new research lines emerged in quantum communication, machine learning, wind energy cost reduction, and cultural heritage digitization. The trajectory shows a university that kept its HPC core but broadened its application domains and embraced quantum and AI-driven methods.

Stuttgart is scaling its computational strengths toward exascale and quantum while increasingly applying simulation expertise to energy transition challenges — expect future work at the intersection of HPC, AI, and clean energy.

How they like to work

Stuttgart operates predominantly as an active consortium partner (131 of 180 projects), contributing specialized expertise rather than leading entire programmes. However, with 33 coordinator roles they have proven capacity to lead, particularly in fundamental research (ERC, MSCA). Their network of 1,646 unique partners across 55 countries marks them as a major European hub — they are well-connected generalists who bring computational and engineering depth to diverse consortia rather than repeatedly working with a fixed set of partners.

With 1,646 unique consortium partners spanning 55 countries, Stuttgart maintains one of the broadest collaboration networks among German universities in H2020. Their reach is firmly pan-European with significant global connections, reflecting their role in large-scale infrastructure projects like EuroHPC and EUROfusion.

What sets them apart

Stuttgart combines world-class HPC and simulation capability with applied engineering across energy, transport, and manufacturing — a rare bridge between computational science and industrial application. Unlike purely theoretical computer science departments, their simulation work is always tied to real physical systems: combustion engines, wind turbines, CO2 capture plants, nuclear safety. For consortium builders, this means one partner that can both develop the computational framework and apply it to the engineering problem at hand.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CEMCAP
  EUR 1.99M for CO2 capture from cement production — their largest single-project funding and a flagship of their energy-environment crossover work.
• TUNNELCHEM
  EUR 1.99M ERC grant as coordinator for atom-tunneling in chemistry — demonstrates their capacity to lead fundamental research at the highest European level.
• EUROfusion
  Part of Europe's flagship fusion energy roadmap implementation — signals trusted involvement in the continent's most ambitious long-term energy programme.